Grandparent bilked out of $4K in bail money scam

A grandparent was scammed out of more than $4,000 after receiving a call bail money and damage restitution money was needed to get their grandchild out of jail, according to a Roanoke Rapids Police Department report.

Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement the victim reported around 4:30 p.m. Friday they fell for a bail money scam.

The victim received a phone call from someone they thought was a grandchild, asking them for money to get out of jail and to pay for damages the grandchild caused.

The caller asked the victim to get gift cards from Walmart to pay the money. The victim did what was asked and the caller called the victim back to get the information from the cards.

After the victim completed the transaction they received another call telling them the amount was not enough to pay for everything.

The victim told the caller that they couldn’t send any more money.

The total amount of cards purchased was $4,500, according to the report.

Here are some ways to avoid these scams from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office:

Don’t answer calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize or emails from addresses that aren’t familiar to you.

Beware of anyone who asks you to send money immediately, no matter the reason.

Don’t share information about you or your family with anyone you don’t know who calls, emails, or contacts you through other means.

If you get a call or a message asking for help, hang up or log off and contact the person directly at a number you know is theirs to make sure the request is legitimate.

If someone claims to be a loved one, ask the person questions that only your real family member would be able to answer.

Share carefully on social media. Make sure your privacy settings prevent strangers from accessing information about you or your family.

Never wire or send money in response to a phone call, email or online message. Once the money has been received by a fraudster, it’s almost impossible to get it back.

Here are a few more websites for tips to avoid being a victim of scams